Pleating machine



May 7, 1940. w. P. OSGOO D PLEATING MACHINE 4 Shets-Sheet 5 Filed June 16. 1939 NVENTUR' -May 7, 1940. w QSGQQD 2.199.808

PLEAT-ING MACHINE Filed June 16, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTDRNE Patented May 7, 1940 PATENT OFFlCE PLEATING MACHINE Walter P. Osgood, Malden, Mass.

Application June 16, 1939, Serial No. 279,382

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to machines which are used in the manufacture of shoes to pleat various shoe upper blanks.

An important prevailing style trend requires shoes to be ornamented by a large number of pleats. In many factories, these pleats are formed by the machine disclosed in the application filed by Holton M. Sutherland March 14, '1939, Serial No. 261,736, reference to which is made by permission. While this machine pleats the upper blank in arapid, reliable and economic manner, it is limited in the scope of its use in that it is necessary for the factory to have available for use two machines, one for forming right pleats and the other for forming left pleats. In some shoes, the design thereof requires the pleat to start and stop in the body portion of the pleated blank at points spaced from the edges thereof. It is impracticable to form such a pleat in the Sutherland machine, as it forms an unsightly crease. in that portion of the pleated blank intermediate the pleat and the edges of the blank.

The principal object of the present invention is to produce a pleating machine which'will form both right or left pleats, either from one edge of the shoe upper blank to the other as in the Sutherland machine or in the body portion of the blank spaced from the edges thereof To the accomplishment of this object, and such others as may appear hereinafter, the various features of the present invention reside in certain constructions and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and then set forth broadly and in detail in the appended claims which possess advantages readily understood by those skilled in the art.

Describing the pleating operation and the construction and mode of operation of the machine in general terms, to pleat the work, the piece of sheet material, such as an upper blank, is first marked with guide lines and then, in the area to be pleated, it is provided with an adhesive coating. The operative grasps the side edges of the work and introduces it between the pleating fingers in a manner to engage the toe of the uppermost pleating finger, which is supported from below, with the grain or finished face of the work and the toe of the lowermost pleating finger, which is supported from above, with the flesh .or unfinished face of the work. The work is passed over the toe of the uppermost pleating finger, in between the toes of both pleating finvgers, and under the toe of thelowermost pleating finger, thus to form a pleat before the leading edge of the work is located upon the roll work support beneath the hammer. The hammer 'then pounds the flesh or unfinished face of the work to flatten the pleat and subject the adhesive faces of the pleat to pressure. During its active stroke, the hammer feeds the work and then returns on its idle stroke to impart a blow to the succeeding portion of the pleated work. During the idle stroke ofthe hammer, the operative may swing the work'laterally about the toes of the fingers, in order to produce a curvilinear pleat.

' The above description applies equally to the Sutherland machine in forming right pleats. To form either right or left pleats, the illustrated embodiment of the present invention is provided with means for locating the pleating fingers, so that the uppermost and lowermost pleating fingers are located at the left and the right, respectively, of the operative, in which position they form right pleats, or in the reverse of that location, in which position they form left pleats.

In addition, the illustrated embodiment of the invention is provided with a cam operatively connected to the roll work support and a follower operatively connected to the uppermost pleating finger, which is supported from below. When the roll work support is in its operating position, the cam through the follower locks the uppermost pleating finger to prevent lateral movement thereof under the pressure of the Work being inserted between the pleating fingers to commence the pleating of the work. When the operative steps on the treadle to lower the roll work support, the cam releases the follower, sothat the uppermost pleating finger, which is supported from below, is free to swing laterally under the pressure of the work being inserted between the pleating fingers, thus suspending thepleating operation until such time as the operative may release the treadle to cause the spring connected to the roll work support to return it to its normal operating position. During this movement of the roll work support, the cam operates the follower to return the displaced uppermost pleating finger to pleating position and then locks the follower to prevent lateral movement of the uppermost pleating finger during the pleating operation. Thus, by stepping on the treadle, then releasing the treadle and then stepping on it again, the machine may form a pleat, the ends of which are located within the body portion of the work spaced from the edges thereof. The cam and follower cooperate in the manner described when the uppermost pleating finger is positioned at the left and the right, respectively, of the operative.

The various features of the present invention will be readily understood from an inspection of the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a detail view in left-side elevation of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a detail view in front elevation illustrating the pleating fingers positioned to form right pleats;

Fig. 3 is a detail view in front elevation illustrating the pleating fingers positioned to form' left pleats;

Fig. 4 is a detail view in sectional plan on the line 5-4, Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detail view in sectional plan on the line 5-5, Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a detail view in sectional the line $-5, Fig. 1;

Fig. '7 is a view similar to that of Fig. 6, the cam and its follower having a different relative position;

Fig. 8 is a detail view in perspective illustrating the relationship between the roll work support, the pleating fingers and the pleated work;

Fig. 9 is a detail view in sectional elevation of the ends of the pleating fingers and the pleated work on the line 9-9, Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a detail view in plan, partly in section, illustrating the vertically movable cam and the follower thereof, the position of the fingers corresponding to that of Fig. 5;

Fig. 11 is a detail view in plan, partly in section, illustratingthe vertically movable cam and the follower thereof, the position of the fingers corresponding to that of Fig. 4;

Fig. 12 is a detail view in sectional elevation, partly exploded, illustrating the operation of adjusting the upper pleating finger which is supported from below into one of its positions of adjustment;

Fig. 13 is a detail view in sectional elevation, partly exploded, illustrating the operation of adjusting the upper pleating finger which is supported from below into a position of adjustment opposite that of Fig. 12, and

Fig. 14 is a detail view in left-side elevation of the mounting of the lower pleating finger which is supported from above.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the piece of sheet material 15, (Fig. 8), is supported upon a roll work support l6 which is mounted in a vertical slot l1, (Figs. 4 and 5), formed in a yoke H8. The yoke carries a horizontal pin l9 upon which the roll is grotatably mounted. The yoke i8 slides vertically in a hollow pedestal 25, (Fig. 1), secured to the frame of the machine. The vertical movement of the yoke 18 is guided by a cylindrical extension 2! thereon which slides in the bore of the pedestal, a pin 22 projecting rearwardly from the extension being engaged by a vertical slot 23 in the pedestal. The roll it is normally held elevated by a coiled spring 24 which is coiled about a post 25 depending from the extension 21 and interposed therebetween and a plug 26 threaded into elevation on the bore of the pedestal 25 at the lower end thereof. The roll 16 mat be depressed against the tension of the spring 24 by suitable connections from a treadle-operated rod 21. The pin 22, in conjunction with the slot 23, serves the double function of keeping the roll 66 in its proper alignment with the hammer 28 and the work I5, and at the same time limiting the upward movement. of the roll l6. by the spring 24.

Cooperating with the roll I6 is a hammer 28 having its work-engaging face 29 roughened laterally and provided with a relief 39, (Figs. 2 and 3), in the line of feed. The hammer 28 may be formed upon the end of a rod 3! which is adjustably mounted in one end of a lever 32, the upper end of which has a. strap and link connection with an eccentric 33 on the power-driven shaft 34. The lever 32 is provided with a vertical slot 35, the vertical sides of which engage the grooved sides of a block 35 which is pivotally mounted on a horizontal pin 37 projecting. laterally from the machine frame. With this construction, the lever 32 is reciprocated on the block I I 36 and is oscillated on the pin 31, thus imparting a combined reciprocating and oscillating movement to the hammer.

In order to pleat the sheet of material l5, (Fig. 8), the machine is provided with two fingers 38 and 39 which, so far as construction and pleating function are concerned, are identical'with the pleating fingers disclosed in the Sutherlandapplication hereinbefore identified.

The lower pleating fingerSQ, which is supported from above, is secured to a horizontal plate 40,

(Figs. 4 and 5), on the bottom of a vertical plate 4!. The upper end of the plate M is provided I with a bearing 42, (Fig. l), which is inclined rearwardly and downwardly. The bearing 42 is loosely mounted on a cylindrical rod 43 projecting forwar-dlyand upwardly from a yoke 44 to which the rod 43 is secured by a pin 45. ,A second pin 66 secures the yoke 44 to the lower end of a vertical rod 41' which is mounted in the arms 48 and 2-9 of a yoked bearing bracket 59 secured by screws 5! and 52 to the machine frame. The upper end of the rod ll passes through a bearing 58 formed upon a cap 54 loosely mounted on a pin 55 projecting vertically from the bracket 58. The rod 41, and the parts supported thereby, may be adjusted vertically to vary the vertical space between the pleating fingers 38 and 39, the desired position of adjustment being maintained by a screw which binds the rod l! to the bearing 55 and by a'screw 51' which binds the rod 47 to the bearing 53. The rod 41.,

and the parts supported therefrom, may be elevated from the position illustrated in Fig. '1 by loosening the screw 55 and elevating the cap The rod 47, and the parts supported therej from, may be either elevated or lowered from the position of Fig. 1 by loosening the screws 55 and 51. The screws permit, also, angular adjustment of the pleating finger 39 laterally.

The axisof rod 43, when extended rearwardly,

is arranged to cut the median line of the roll work support it tangentially thereof, in order that the pleating finger 39 maybe swung in substantially a horizontal plane from the position it occupies in forminga right pleat, (Fig. 4) to the position it occupies in forming a left pleat, (Fig. 5). In order to limit themaximum movement of the finger to the left and right, (Figs. 2 and 3), the free, vertical arms- 58 and 59 of the yoke 54 are provided with stop screws 56,

(Fig. 3), and 5!, (Fig. 2), which engage the opposite faces, respectively, of theplate 4!. The plate 4! is locked in its maximum positions of swing by screws lit and 63 which are mounted in the arms 58 and 55, respectively, and arranged to engage the opposite faces, respectively,

of the plate 41.

The screws 52 and 63 may be manipulated to limit ad'justably the swinging' movements of the plate 4! 1 short of the maximum I thereof independently of thescrewstlland' 6|.

-machine hereinbefore referred to, it is possible -The upper pleating finger 38, supported from below, is. provided with a depending post 64,

which is supported for vertical adjustment. To

this end, the lower end of the post 69 carries rigid therewith a cylindrical block I8, (Fig. 3),

having, upon its lower end, a threaded portion ll, (Fig; 1), screwed-into the flange 13 of the pedestal 20. A check nut 12 on the threaded portion H serves to lock the block 18 in its desired vertical position. The desired position of vertical adjustment'of the post 69 is maintained by two screws 14, (Fig. 2), which pass through the post 69 into engagement with the surface of the block 18.

The bottom of the pin 68 is provided with a key 15, (Fig. 3), adapted to fit in a key-way 16 formed in a'cylindrical block 11 which is supported for free, angular movement in the post 69 in a manner presently to be described. With this construction, the pin 68' may be locked to the block 11 with the offset portion of the block 66 located either to the right, (Fig. 2), or to the left, (Fig. 3). In either position, the depending post 64 of the pleating finger 38 is supported by a plate 18 carried adjustably by a vertical screw 19 depending from the block 66.

In order that the pleating finger 38 may be directed in the proper position when the block 66 has been moved from the position of Fig. 4 to that of Fig. 5, the block 66 carries two adjustable plates 88 and BI, (Fig. 13), each being provided with an opening which registers with the opening 65. Both plates and 8| are secured to the block 66 by a screw 82, (Figs. 4 and 5), the shank of which passes through corresponding arcuate slots 83 formed in both plates. I As indicated in Figs. 4, 5 and 12, the plate 88 isprovided with a small opening 84 arranged concentric to a larger opening 85 in the overlying plate 8| which is provided with a second opening 86, commensurate in size with the small opening 84 in the plate 88. The underlying plate 88 is provided with a second opening 81, commensurate in size'with the opening 85 in the overlying plate. This arrangement facilitates the equi-angular, lateral adjustment of the pleating finger 38 by having the open-, ings 84 and 86 receive singly a pin depending from the pleating finger 38, the openings 85 and 81 giving sufficient clearance to the pin 88 so that a certain amount of equal adjustment right or left may be obtained.

If the plate 80, provided with two small openings to receive the pin 88 in the two positions of adjustment of the pleating finger 38, were to be used without the plate 8!, the pleating finger 38 could have only the two positions illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. By employing another plate 8|, and providing both plates with the twoopenings, one small and the other larger, the receiving and registering openings in the plates 80 and 8! for the pin 88 may be arranged in an eccentric manner to vary-the relation of the pleating end 'of the finger 38 relative to the median line of the work supporting roll, but insuring that there 1 shall be symmetry in that relation when the pleating finger 38 is located on one side or the other of that median line.

In forming pleats in shoe upper blanks by machine, it is often desirable to commence and terminate the pleats in spaced relation to the edges of the-blank. In the operation of the Sutherland from the edge thereof.

to separate the hammer and the roll work support at the will of the operative, thus to start and stop the hammering of the pleats at points separated from the edges of the blank But the Sutherland pleating fingers form the pleats from one edge of the blank to the other, so that even if the pleats were hammered by the hammer for a portion only of their lengths, the portion of the upper not hammered exhibits unsightly marks'caused bythe crease formed in the upper blank by theSutherland pleating fingers.

In order to start or stop the operation of the pleating fingers within the body portion of the upper blank spaced from the edge thereof, the

illustrated embodiment of the present invention is provided with a cam 89 (Figs. 1,6, '7, wand 11), which is secured to the front face of the yoke 18, (Fig. 1). The front face of the cam 89,

(Figs. 6 and '7),- is provided with a blind, vertical slothaving awide portion 90, the side walls 91 of which are curved downwardly, and anunderlying portion' 92 having vertical side walls 93.

When the roll work support I6 is held in its elevated operating position under the influence of the spring 24, the portion 92 of the cam 89 embraces a follower 94 secured to the cylindrical block 11 which is mounted for limited, angular movement in the post 69. As indicated in Fig.

1, the follower fits in an opening 95 formed in the' rear portion of the post 69,- which opening, as indicated in Figs. 10 and 11, is extended laterally, so while the follower and the parts operatively connected thereto are supported by the post 69, the follower may have a limited, lateral movement in the opening 95.

When the follower isheld between the vertical walls 93 of the cam, the pleating finger 38 is against the pleating finger would cause it to swing out of cooperating relationship with the pleating finger 39. Upon release of the treadle, the spring 24 elevates the work support I6 into its elevated position, thus causing the curved walls 9| of the cam. 89 to swing the pleating finger back into pleating position and position the follower for entrance into the portion 92 of the cam 89,- thus 'relocking the pleating finger 39 in its pleating position. Thus, at the will of the operative, the pleating of the work may start at any desired position within the body of the work spaced By stepping on the treadle at any time after the pleating operation has commenced, the operative may stop it at any desired position within the body of the work spaced from the edge thereof.

Referring to Fig. 5, the pleating fingers are arranged to form right pleats, (Figs. 8 and 9). As shown, the toes of the fingers are superimposed in vertical spaced relation and cross each other adjacent the longitudinal median line of the roll l6, the toe of the lowermost pleating finger, which is supported from above, being slightly in advance of the uppermost pleating finger, which is supported from below. As shown in Fig. 5, the toes of the pleating fingers are spaced, from the longitudinal median line of the roll l6.

....In order to reverse the positionof the pleating fingers laterally and thus locate them in the position of Fig. 4 to form left instead of right pleats, the plate H, from which the pleating finger 39 is supported, is unlocked from the yoke 44 and withdrawn on the pin 43, (Fig. 14), to prevent interference of the finger 39 with the finger 38 during the adjustment of the latter. The operative then elevates the support for the pleating finger 38 to withdraw the key 15 from the way .16, (Fig. '13), to permit the elevated parts to be rotated through an angle of 180, that is, from the position of Fig. 5 to that of Fig. 4,

whereupon the key 15 is reengaged with the pleating fingers, may form curvilinear pleats.

By depressing the treadle during the travel of the leading edge of the work through the pleating fingers, the pleating finger is permitted to swing out of operating position, thus suspending the pleating operation until such time as the operativereleases the treadle. Thus, by manipulating the treadle, the operative may form pleats which extend within the body portion spaced rom either or both the leading and trailing edges of the work.

Nothing herein explained is to be interpreted as limiting the various features of the present invention in the scope of its application to use in connection with the particular machine or the particular mode of operation or both selected for purposes of illustration and explanation. While the particulars of constructionherein set forth are well suited to one mechanical form of the invention and to the use to which it is put, it is not limited to this use, nor to these details of construction, nor to the conjoint use of all its features, nor is it to be understood that these particulars are essential since they may be modified within the skill of the artisan without departing from the true scope of the actual invention, characterizing features of which are set forth in the following claims by the intentional use of generic terms and expressions inclusive of various modifications.

What is claimed as new, is:

1. ,In a pleating machine, the combination with a roll work support and a pair of pleating fingers having the toes thereof arranged in a predetermined spaced relationship to the longitudinal median line of the work support, of means permitting the reversal of the pleating fingers laterally into different positions in which the original predetermined relationship of the toes of the pleating fingers to the longitudinal median line of the work support is maintained. 7 2. In a pleating machine, the combination with a work support mounted to rotate about ahorizontal axis, and a pair of pleating fingers having their toes superimposed and spaced vertically, of means for angularly adjusting the uppermost pleating finger about a vertical axis located in the same vertical plane as the longitudinal median line of the work support and the lowermost pleating finger about an axis extending rearwardly and downwardly in intersection tangentially with the work support at the longitudinal median line thereof.

3:111: a pleating machine, the combination with a pleating finger, and a supportv therefor in which the. pleating finger is angularly adjustable about. a vertical axis, of a second support inwhich the first-named support is angularly adjustable about a-second vertical axis.

4. ,In a pleatingv machine, the combination with a roll work support, a pleating finger and a support therefor in which the pleating finger is angularly adjustable about a verticalaxis, of a second support in which the first-namedsupport is angularly adjustable about a second vertical axis located in the same vertical plane as the longitudinalmedian line of the roll work support.

5. In a pleating machine, the combination with a roll work support and a pleating finger having its toe located at one side of the longitudinal median line of the work support, of means for shifting the pleating finger bodily through a substantially 180 angle to locate the finger with its toe located at the other side of thelongitudinal median line.

6. In a pleating machine, the combination with a roll work support and a pleating finger having its toe located at one side of the longitudinal median line of the work support in a. definite.

spaced relation thereto, of means for reversing the position of the pleating finger with its toe located at the other side of the said longitudinal median line in said definite spaced relation thereto.

7. In a pleating machine, the combination with a roll work support and a pleating finger having its toe located at one side of the longitudinal median line of the work support in a definite spaced relation thereto and means for reversing the position of the pleating finger with its toe located at the other side of the said longitudinal median line in said definite spaced relation therei to, of-means for varying the definite spaced relation.

8. In a pleating machine, the combination with a roll work support, of apleating finger angularly adjustable about an axis extending downwardly and rearwardly in intersection substantially tantudinal median line, thereof. v

9. Ina pleating machine, the combination with .4 gential with the roll work support at the longia roll. work suppor a spring for maintaining the work support elevated into operating position, treadle connections for lowering. the work support against the tension of the spring, a pleat ing finger, and a follower connected operatively to the pleating finger, of a cam connected operatively to the work support for locking the follower when the work-support is elevated and 1 for unlocking the follower when port is depressed.

the work sup- 10. In a pleating machine, the combination with a frame, a tubular member supported therefrom, a cylindrical block angularly movable therein, and a support having an oiiset portion connected detachably to the cylindrical block, of a pleating finger adjustable angularly in the offset portion of the block. M

11. In a pleating machine, the combination with a frame, a roll work support thereon, a

spring for maintaining the work support elevated into operating position, treadle connections for depressing the work support against the tension of the spring, a tubularmember supported from. the frame, provided with an opening, a cylindrical block within the tubular member, a

follower connected to the block arranged in the opening of the tubular member, said. follower having substantially the same vertical dimension as the opening, but narrower than the width of the opening, whereby the follower is supported by the tubular member while free to move latunlocking the follower when the work support is depressed.

12. In a pleating machine, the combination with a frame, a roll work support thereon, a spring for maintaining the work support elevated into operating position, treadle connections for depressing the work support against the tension of the spring, a tubular member supported from the frame, provided with an opening, a cylindrical block within the tubular member, a

follower connected to the block arranged in the opening of the tubular member, said follower having substantially the same vertical dimension as the opening, but narrower than the width of the opening, whereby the follower is supported by the tubular member while free to move laterally therein, and a pleating finger connected detachably to the block to facilitate the location of the finger in two positions substantially 180 apart relative thereto, of a cam connected operatively to the work support for locking the follower centrally in the opening when the work support is elevated and for unlocking the follower, to permit lateral movement thereof in a direction depending upon the location of the pleating finger relative to the block, when the work support is depressed.

WALTER P. OSGOOD. 

